Statutory Assessment Tests (SATs)
Statutory Assessment Tests (SATs) are nationally administered tests, used in primary schools at the end of Key Stage 2. There are no longer any Statutory tests at the end of Key Stage 1
Please remember, that the SATs tests are not something that you or your child should be worrying about. Throughout their time at Sytchampton, our pupils practice summative tests on a termly basis and are exposed to test conditions in a range of subjects continuously. For the children, SATs are no different to this, it is just that as national tests there are strict rules and guidance around their administration.
When will the SATS take place?
KS2 SATS (Year 6 Pupils) will be administered throughout the week of 13th to 16th May 2025.
It is imperative that children are in school this week, unless they are too ill to attend. Please do not book any leave or holiday.
The dates are set by the Standards and Testing Agency and will be held on the following dates:
Tuesday 13th May 2025 - Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar Paper 1 - 45 mins
Tuesday 13th May 2025 - Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar Paper 2 - 20 mins
Wednesday 14th May 2025 - English Reading - 60 minutes
Thursday 15th May 2025 - Maths Paper 1 (Arithmetic) - 30 minutes
Thursday 15th May 2025 - Maths Paper 2 (Reasoning) - 40 minutes
Friday 16th May 2025 - Maths Paper 3 (Reasoning) - 40 minutes
What will children be tested on in their Year 6 SATs?
The Year 6 SATs cover the learning that children have done throughout their time at primary school. This is revisited through their normal Year 6 curriculum. There is no need for special 'revision' although we will encourage children to keep pracitising their knowledge and skills.
Year 6 will sit the following KS2 SATs Papers in 2025. In addition some schools will be chosen for science sampling and will also sit a KS2 Science Paper
The KS2 Reading SATs:
- This is one paper, with questions that are based on 3 different passages of text. Pupils will have 1 hour to complete the paper.
The KS2 SPaG SATs:
- There is a 20 word aural spelling test which should last around 15 minutes.
- There is also a written element which consists of an English grammar and punctuation paper, which will last for 45 minutes.
The KS2 Maths SATs:
- There will be 3 mathematics papers.
- Paper 1 is an arithmetic paper which will last for 30 minutes.
- Papers 2 and 3 are reasoning papers which will last for 40 minutes each.
What can parents do to help their children prepare for SATs?
Let us reassure you, that we have been working incredibly hard to prepare your children for their SATs. We are sure that their are many parents worrying about what they can do to help their children. Our most important piece of advice, is to not put them under any pressure with regard to these tests. Ultimately, the tests are only one tool with which we assess your child and all the information about their learning and achievement is passed on to Secondary Schools.
Often, Secondary Schools will conduct their own baselines when the child starts in Year 7 to inform their groupings. So please remember, that if your child does not get the results you had hoped for, it really isn't the end of the world.
Here are some important tips for helping your child prepare for SATs:
- Talk about the SATs and tell them not worry about them. The school will also do this, too, but it makes a bigger impact if school and parents do this together. Children perform best when they are relaxed.
- Reading is a key part of primary education so keep encouraging daily reading whether your child reads on their own or if you read together. Discuss the books, the characters, the storylines and encourage your child to express their own opinions on the book. This is important to their long term development as well as SATs test.
- Play mental games when you are on the way home whether you are walking or driving. Playing card games, Uno, Monopoly and dominoes all help with Maths. Whereas games like hangman, Boggle or Scrabble will support with literacy,
- You can buy test papers and work through them with your child but your child will be doing lots of tests in school so only do more if your child enjoys their challenge. If your child doesn’t like them, it is counter productive to force them to do more.
- There are lots of revision guides available to buy. You do not have to get one but if your child is reassured by having a book why not choose one together.
- Try to keep everything else running normally. So whether its sport, music lessons or Scouts and Guides; sticking to your normal routine of out of school activities demonstrates to your child that SATs are not the be and end all of year 6.
- During the SATs week, whilst keeping to normal timetable, try to avoid late nights, as children will find sitting the tests tiring.
- Try to make sure your child has some fresh air when they come home from school on test days.
- Keep it in proportion. They are primary-school tests to gauge the education in the school and do not affect the secondary school your child will go to.
- Stay positive. Many children enjoy taking the tests as they see it as a challenge and like the importance and the feeling of being special that SATs give year 6.